DEONTAY WILDER CALLS OUT ANTHONY JOSHUA: ONE FINAL CHANCE TO SETTLE THE HEAVYWEIGHT GRUDGE NOW
Anthony Joshua vs. Wilder 2026: Money, respect, and career-ending risks. Explore why Wilder’s "destiny" quote smells like desperation.
Anthony Joshua vs. Wilder: It Only Matters Because It Could Still Go Sideways
Anthony Joshua took care of business in Miami. He wore down Jake Paul, knocked him down repeatedly, and finished him in the sixth. Paul ended up with a broken jaw and a lot less to say. This outcome is more important for Netflix's earnings than for heavyweight rankings. In the boxing world, it just means Joshua should be fighting serious heavyweights again, not famous people with cameras.
The most recent fight that shows where Joshua stands is still the Dubois fight at Wembley. He was dropped early, his legs were gone, and he got stopped in five rounds because he tried to trade punches instead of playing it safe. Before that, the Ngannou knockout gave him a good moment, but it didn't fix his issues: backing straight up, panicking under pressure, and leaving his chin exposed after punching.
Wilder's "We Must Meet" Line—What Does It Really Mean?
Deontay Wilder saying, "We must meet," sounds like fate, but he's a 40-year-old who hasn't been doing great since 2020. He had a warm-up fight against Tyrrell Herndon that people are calling a comeback. The Herndon fight was like practice under the lights. Wilder knocked down a willing opponent twice, got some rounds in, and showed that his right hand still has power when the other guy isn't punching back hard.
That quote is less about destiny and more about a guy looking for one last big payday while he's still famous. "We're both still in this business" means we both still sell tickets, not that we're the best in the division. Any trainer would hear desperation, not confidence, in that.
What Could Go Wrong for Joshua?
Joshua has always struggled with what Wilder does best: throwing long, quick right hands off balance. Joshua likes things neat—jab, jab, right hand, repeat. When things get messy, he tends to freeze, plant his feet, and try to trade instead of getting out of there. That's when Wilder's right hand lands.
The Dubois loss showed Joshua still can't handle tough moments. He got hurt early, never recovered his legs, and tried to stand his ground when he should have been clinching and slowing the fight down. Against Wilder, one mistake like that—hanging around too long to prove a point—could turn a fight he's winning into a knockout loss.
What's the Real Threat Wilder Poses Now?
Even past his prime, Wilder's threat is simple: he can lose every round and still win with one right hand if he can trick you into getting too aggressive. The Herndon fight showed his timing isn't gone completely. He still found his range when the other guy slowed down, and he didn't need many clean shots to get the stoppage.
The real danger for Joshua is staying focused, not physical damage. He could be boxing well, winning rounds, then get impatient and throw one too many punches because he's tired of just jabbing. Wilder's plan is based on that mistake—a slow fight, not many punches, then a sudden right hand when you lose focus.
What This Fight Reveals, Not Proves
Joshua vs. Wilder in 2026 won't decide any big debates about who is the best. Fury, Usyk, and Dubois have already done that. It will show if Joshua can last twelve rounds without losing his head when facing real power again and if Wilder has enough left to create a chance to win, not just throw wild punches from too far away.
It also shows how both guys handle risk when there's no title on the line, just money and respect. Without any pressure from boxing organisations, you see who's still willing to risk getting hit just for the thrill of it and a paycheck.
Business, Timing, and What's Possible
Usyk holding the belts means this fight is just for entertainment. No one is forcing it; there's no deadline, it just depends on whether the Saudis or an American TV network thinks people will pay to watch. The Paul numbers—33 million viewers on Netflix—give Joshua power. His team can say they don't need Wilder to sell tickets.
For Wilder, Joshua is the biggest money fight left. Usyk would be a risky fight with less reward, and the other heavyweights don't bring in as much money. That's why he says, I'll almost definitely fight Joshua. It's not about dreams; it's about money.
If It Goes Wrong
If Joshua fights Wilder and gets knocked out or badly hurt, he'll stop being seen as someone who can win titles again. He'll just be a famous name for exhibition fights and for young fighters to beat. Another bad loss after the Dubois fight would tell every heavyweight that if you can make Joshua think and punch at the same time, he'll fall apart.
If it goes wrong for Wilder—if Joshua beats him easily or finishes him late—the idea that he's always one punch away from winning will disappear. He'll become a memory, appearing in highlight reels and as a guest of honour, not a live threat. Either way, this fight won't rebuild careers. It will end one for good.
NAOYA INOUE SURVIVES JUNTO NAKATANI CHALLENGE TO KEEP UNDISPUTED FEATHERWEIGHT CROWN
Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed junior featherweight title in a classic unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani in Tokyo.
Naoya Inoue showed up at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama with a big smile on his face; everyone could tell he was riding high after last night’s fights.
He sat next to his brother, Takuma Inoue, the WBC bantamweight champ, and both of them had just defended their world titles at the Tokyo Dome. For Naoya, the night was all about facing his toughest opponent yet at junior featherweight. He managed to edge out Junto Nakatani in a fight that went back and forth and walked away with a unanimous decision to keep his undisputed crown.
This was a huge deal: two guys from Kanagawa squaring off in what people called the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. Honestly, the match delivered. The momentum swung between them; both had their moments. In the end, Inoue did just enough to pull ahead on the scorecards.
After such a close fight, everyone’s talking about a rematch. Nakatani seemed to be finding his rhythm in the middle rounds, but then there was an accidental head clash in the 10th that cut him. That’s when Inoue took control and finished strong.
“I’m not sure yet. If enough people want it, a rematch could happen." Inoue said he’s now 33-0, with 27 KOs. “Like I said last night, I’ve got options, but nothing is decided. I’m thinking about a new stage, and I’ll talk with Mr Ohashi about that.”
That “new stage” probably means moving up in weight. But judging by Saturday, he might still have business to settle in his own division.
There was one moment that summed up the fight. Both guys were trading punches at a high level, slipping and countering at the same time. Nobody landed, and they stopped to share a quick smile. It was surreal, but it showed just how much respect they had for each other.
“I was fighting while really feeling Nakatani’s skill and spirit,” Inoue said. “I’m pretty sure he felt the same. We both enjoyed that little space where neither could hit the other. That smile just happened.”
Despite all the mutual respect, Inoue took over when he had to. After Nakatani got cut in the 10th, Inoue had his best round; he hurt Nakatani several times and messed up his orbital bone with a sharp left hand.
“I didn’t go in with the sole intention to knock him out,” Inoue admitted. “It was complicated, a feeling I’ve never had before.”
DAVID BENAVIDEZ KNOCKS OUT ZURDO RAMIREZ TO UNIFY WBA AND WBO BELTS
David Benavidez captured the WBA/WBO cruiserweight titles with a 6th-round TKO of Zurdo Ramirez before calling out Canelo Alvarez.
David Benavidez put on an unforgettable show Saturday night, stopping Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez in the sixth round at T-Mobile Arena to grab the WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) jumped up to cruiserweight after winning belts at super middleweight and light heavyweight, and he didn’t just win; he dominated. Mike Tyson dubbed him the “Mexican Monster", and honestly, Benavidez lived up to that name.
"My combination, my punch selection, is unlike anything else," Benavidez said. "Whoever it is, man, I don't care who it is: nobody can f--- with me."
At 29, Benavidez came in ranked No. 5 pound-for-pound by ESPN, but for years, he’s wanted to snatch the Mexican holiday spotlight from Canelo Alvarez. He’s chased that fight for ages.
This time, he finally got to headline on Cinco de Mayo weekend, facing another Mexican star. And with the beating he laid on Ramirez, Benavidez might have just snatched the title of Mexico’s top boxer.
Afterwards, a Golden Boy Promotions spokesperson confirmed Ramirez was taken to the hospital for a head scan. "He's in good spirits and has a swollen eye," the spokesperson said. "There's no determination of a fracture at this point."
Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) had only lost once before against Dmitry Bivol in 2022 for the WBA light heavyweight title. He’d been rolling at cruiserweight, piecing together four straight wins and hauling in two titles. But against Benavidez, Ramirez just couldn’t keep up with the blistering hand speed.
"I knew that the combination was going to be able to land easily," Benavidez said.
The way Benavidez broke Ramirez down was something else. He kept finding openings, landing combo after combo, pounding away until the crowd couldn’t help but react.
These two actually go way back. When Benavidez was 19, he sparred with Ramirez close to 300 rounds, apparently when Ramirez was prepping for Arthur Abraham in 2016. But real fights are a different world. Ramirez learned that the hard way Saturday night, leaving the ring with his right eye nearly swollen shut.
"I love Ramirez. We came up together," Benavidez said. "I'm kind of sad it had to happen like this. I love 'Zurdo' Ramirez, but that's what it is in here. There's only one 'Monstro'."
From the opening bell, Benavidez wouldn’t give Ramirez any space, picking his shots and then letting his speed loose, which has always set him apart. By the fourth, Benavidez started landing at will. He rocked Ramirez with an uppercut that put him on his heels, then pounced, firing off a flurry that forced Ramirez to take a knee.
Ramirez pulled himself together for the fifth round, but Benavidez just waited for his next chance. In the sixth, Benavidez battered him again with uppercuts; another brutal combo had Ramirez staggering, his eye swelling as the ref waved it off with a second left in the round.
With this win, Benavidez looks ready to stay at cruiser weight. Still, he used the moment to call out Canelo Alvarez, who was watching at ringside.
"I just want to give the fans what they want to see," Benavidez said. "I see Canelo in the building. Hey, let me just ask the fans this: Do you guys want to see Canelo versus David Benavidez? Enough said. That means that we can't leave that fight on the table. And I respect Canelo. He's a good champion. But I'm a great champion too. Let's do it."
Sure, a fight with Alvarez would be huge. But honestly, after the way Benavidez dominated here, nobody knows if Canelo will actually want to risk it. Canelo fights at super middleweight, and Benavidez probably isn’t dropping back to 168 pounds after this.
Still, Benavidez took his swing, then made it clear he’s coming for Dmitry Bivol as well.
"Bivol is No. 1 on my hit list," Benavidez said. "Bivol is a great competitor, a great champion. But I'm a great champion too. I just want to test myself every single fight."
